Stamp.



N0. 703,0. Patented June 24, I902.

E. H. SMITH.

STAMP.

(Application filed Mar. 3, 19024' (No Model.)

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT 'QFFICE.

ELNATHAN II. SMITH, OF OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY.

STAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,011, dated J 24, 1902.

. Application filed March 3. 1902- Serial No. 96.369. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELNATI-IAN H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ocean City, Cape May county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to printing-stamps; and the object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective inking device, whereby the type of the stamp may be readily inked at any time.

Another object incidental to my improved invention is the provision of a standard or support for the stamp, so that the inked type will not come in contact with and soil articles lying around upon a desk or collect dust and dirt and become injured.

By my improvement the stamp is very unlikely to be used upside down, which was a common source of annoyance in printingstamps of this character.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view the position of the parts being changed. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the end opposite the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A is a frame of any suitable construction, which may carry type B.

O is a handle of convenient form attached to the frame of the stamp.

The form of stamp shown is that commonly termed a dating-stamp, in which rubber bands bearing numerals and abbreviations pass over a suitable bearing and around ad justing-wheels, as D, the whole being arranged so that type indicating the desired month, date, &c., may be used. A detailed description of these parts is needless, as dating-stamps of this character have been well known and used for a long period, usually in connection with a separate inking-pad. This old method of operation has many disadvantages, among which are the danger of getting more ink 011 one end of the line of type than on the other end, of reversing the type, and thus printing upside down. There is also danger of soiling articles upon thedesk when the stamp is laid aside, the loss of the separate inking-pad frequently rendering the stamp useless. By my improvement all of these difficulties are overcome.

The inking device comprises a pad E, having opposite side members or Walls F F, preferably provided with vertical slots or openings. In the particular construction shown the hub D for the rubber-band wheels D projects beyond the ends of the frameA and into the slots in the side members F F.

G G are lugs or stop-shoulders which are preferably provided with the members F F to prevent them from swinging past the center or inking position. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 3.) Upon one of these side members F or F is an operating-lever H. This operating-lever is located in a convenient position to be engaged by one of the fingers of the hand which holds the handle of the stamp, so that the disengaged fingers are used for the purpose of manipulating the lever H. The balance of the parts when the stamp is raised is such that the pad E will normally hang down vertically beneath the hub D. In this position the type B is ready for engagement with the pad E. When the stamp is set down, it is prevented from falling or tipping over by reason of the broad base or foundation afforded by the shape of the pad E. This is best seen in Fig. 3. The normal position, therefore, of the article is with the type upon the pad. It is therefore ready for immediate use. All that the operator is required to do is to grasp the handle, as shown in Fig. 1, pick the device up, and press the lever H by one of the fingers in such a manner as to swing the pad E out from under the type D and approximately to the position shown in Fig. 2. The impression may then be made in the usual Way. One or more impressions may be made at a single inking, or if it is desired to reink the type after each impression the operator has merely to release the lever H, whereupon the pad drops by gravity, so that by depressing the frame of the stamp the type-row is brought into contact with the pad, after which said pad may be elevated and operated in the manner above described and another impression made. Obviously the impression cannot be made upside down, since with the pad standing normally under and protecting the type it is necessary that the article be turned to the correct position in order toplace the lever H in proximity to any finger by which it may be manipulated.

The Whole device is operated by one hand. Since two or three of the fingers only are needed to hold the device, any one of the remaining fingers of that hand may be used to operate the pad by means of the lever H. Sufficient freedom should be given in the slots in the side members F F to permit the proper manipulation of the parts.

The stop-shoulders Gr may be placed at a convenient position on the side members to insure their engagement with the frame A.

The operating-lever may be modified in a variety of Ways; but in the preferred form I make it integral with the side member F, so that in practice a right-handed person would be enabled to engage it with the second or third finger of the right hand.

The frame may be economically stamped or struck up from sheet metal.

Many changes may be made in the construction of such a device Without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A stamp comprising a frame, type carried thereby, a pad of greater area than the area of the type, side members at opposite ends of said pad, a hinged and freely-sliding connection between said side members and said frame, and an operating-lever for said pad.

Signed at Ocean City, New Jersey, this 28th day of February, 1902.

ELNATHAN H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

A. J. SMITH, DOVER 80mm. 

